Access to broadband is essential for living, working and
competing in a digital world. For Canadians in rural and northern
regions in particular, access to high-speed Internet can unlock
tremendous economic potential, leading to the creation of new jobs,
products and businesses that will benefit Canadian middle-class
families.

Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation,
Science and Economic Development, announced the launch of Connect
to Innovate, a new program that aims to bring broadband Internet
access to 300 rural and remote communities across Canada. The
program will invest up to $500 million by 2021 to ensure
that rural and remote communities across Canada are well positioned
to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the digital
age.

Connect to Innovate will help address the digital divide by
primarily supporting new high-capacity "backbone" networks, with a
portion of funding being used to upgrade existing backbone networks
and provide "last-mile" connections. Building this infrastructure
will give rural and remote areas access to the digital economy; it
is the modern equivalent of building roads or railway spurs. These
networks will support the digital needs of Canadian institutions,
businesses and households well into the future.

Connect to Innovate was developed after extensive consultations
with stakeholders, Internet service providers and Canadians. The
program is designed to meet the needs of those living in rural and
remote areas by bringing Internet access to institutions like
schools, hospitals and First Nation band offices.

Additional backbone capacity could be used to provide users with
access to speeds well above 5 megabits per second. Communities
using new backbone infrastructure will see a transformative change
in the speeds and services they can access. With improved mobile
services, Canadian families, businesses and community organizations
in rural and remote areas will be able to participate in the
digital economy and access life-changing online services such as
tele-education and tele-medicine.

Quote

"Our government is committed to ensuring that all Canadians,
businesses and institutions have access to the opportunities and
tools they need to grow and succeed in Canada and abroad. By
increasing access to high-speed Internet, the Connect to Innovate
program enhances our rural and remote communities' ability to
innovate, participate in the digital economy and create jobs for
middle-class families. This investment will improve the daily lives
of Canadians."

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and
Economic Development

Quick facts

Budget 2016 committed to providing up to $500 million
by 2021 to extend and enhance broadband service in rural and
remote communities.

The Connect to Innovate program aims to bring access to
high-speed Internet to 300 communities across Canada.